Transmission and consumption of time-shifted content in a one-way communication environment

ABSTRACT

Aspects of the disclosure relate to control of transmission and consumption of content in a device, such as an end-point rendering device. The content can include linear-programming content assets and/or time-shifted content assets. Consumption can be mediated by a control device that can coordinate the functional interaction between the device and a content distribution network node or an access network node that can supply the content and related information.

BACKGROUND

Certain user devices consume digital media in downstream-onlymodalities, and certain user devices may be unable to deliverinformation upstream as requested by a network, for example, or due tooperational configuration. While non-interactive consumption of contentin such devices generally is satisfactory, interactive consumption ofcontent generally entails upstream delivery of control information.Consumption of interactive content associated with rich digital services(e.g., pay-par-view (PPV) programming, video on demand (VOD), digitalvideo recordings, and the like, and others) may be unavailable to suchdevices.

SUMMARY

It is to be understood that this summary is not an extensive overview ofthe disclosure. This summary is illustrative and not restrictive, and itis intended to neither identify key or critical elements of thedisclosure nor delineate the scope thereof. The sole purpose of thissummary is to explain and exemplify certain concepts of the disclosureas an introduction to the following complete and extensive detaileddescription.

The disclosure relates, in one aspect, to transmission and/orconsumption of content in a device that can function as a one-waydevice, such as an end-point rendering device, wherein the transmissionand/or consumption is mediated by a control device that can coordinatethe interaction between a content distribution network node and theone-way device. The content, which may be interactive, can comprisedata, music, video, advertisement, service notifications, or the like,and the device can be a customer premises equipment (CPE) or a userdevice, such as an end-point electronic device, or a device that is partof a network (e.g., a communication network, a home network, a utilitiesnetwork, or combinations thereof) having various levels of computationalcapability. In certain embodiments, the electronic device can be arendering device without computing functionality that renders apreviously decoded signal. In networks such as packet-switched networks,which can include a cable/fiber optic network or a satellite-basednetwork, the available media can comprise linear-programming assets ornon-linear assets, such as per-per-view (PPV) content assets orvideo-on-demand (VOD) content assets.

The control device can be embodied or can comprise a mobile computingdevice having rich wireless upstream connectivity. To implement thedisclosed controlled consumption of content in the device (or a firstcomputing device), in one aspect, the control device (or secondcomputing device) that is remote from the end-point device and hasupstream connectivity with a service provider network associated withthe device can leverage information management and/or controlfunctionality of such network to acquire information related to contentassets (linear programming, non-linear programming, management assets,such as control functions, etc.) made available for consumption by theservice provider. In one implementation, the control device can initiateconsumption of content via a first communication pathway (e.g., aline-of-sight wireless path), and can broker exchange of tuninginformation between the one-way device and the content distributionnetwork node (e.g. a distribution device, a distribution server, or aQAM node) via the first communication pathway and a second communicationpathway (e.g., a macro-cellular wireless communication path). Suchexchange can permit delivery and/or control of content (e.g.,pay-per-view (PPV) content assets, video-on-demand (VOD) content assets,networked digital video recording (nDVR) content assets) through theone-way device in a manner that is subscriber agnostic with respect tothe subscriber associated with the one-way device.

Some embodiments of the disclosure can provide several advantages overconventional technologies for consumption of content assets via acontrol device. One example advantage includes broadening the scope ofdigital services accessed through a low-complexity low-cost CPE or anyuser device by exploiting functionality of a computing device with richupstream connectivity to leverage data management and controlfunctionality of the network that generally can be accessed via CPEhaving more complex functionality. Another example advantage includespermitting a more fulfilling interactive user experience with increasedquality of service. Affording rich digital services to such equipmentcan provide additional revenue opportunities for a network operator. Yetanother example advantage includes providing ubiquitous rendering ofcontent in a one-way end-point device regardless of whether such deviceis associated with a subscriber of the content being rendered. Suchubiquitous rendering can provide “portable time-shifted content” amongend-users subscribed to a content service of a service provider in thata first subscriber can consume time-shifted content (e.g., nDVR and/orVOD) in a rendering device of a second subscriber.

Additional aspects or advantages of the disclosure will be set forth inpart in the description which follows, and in part will be readilyapparent from the description, or may be learned by practice of thesubject disclosure. The advantages of the disclosure can be realized andattained by means of the elements and combinations particularly pointedout in the appended claims. It is to be understood that both theforegoing general description and the following detailed description areillustrative and explanatory only and are not restrictive of the subjectdisclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The annexed drawings are an integral part of the disclosure andillustrate example embodiments thereof. Together with the descriptionset forth herein and claims appended hereto the annexed drawings serveto explain various principles, features, or aspects of the disclosure.

FIGS. 1-2 illustrate example network environments in accordance with oneor more aspects of the disclosure.

FIG. 3 illustrates an example embodiment of a computing device inaccordance with one or more aspects of the disclosure.

FIGS. 4A-4C illustrate example embodiments of a computing device inaccordance with one or more aspects of the disclosure.

FIG. 5 illustrates an example embodiment of a computing device inaccordance with one or more aspects of the disclosure.

FIGS. 6-10 illustrate example methods according to one or more aspectsdescribed herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The various aspects described herein can be understood more readily byreference to the following detailed description of example embodimentsof the subject disclosure and to the annexed drawings and their previousand following description.

Before the present systems, articles, apparatuses, and methods aredisclosed and described, it is to be understood that the disclosure isnot limited to specific systems, articles, apparatuses, and methods forcontent consumption in a downstream-only device, in which theconsumption is controlled by a two-way device having upstream anddownstream connectivity. It is also to be understood that theterminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particularembodiments only and is not intended to be limiting.

As used in the specification and the appended claims, the singular forms“a,” “an” and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearlydictates otherwise

Ranges may be expressed herein as from “about” one particular value,and/or to “about” another particular value. When such a range isexpressed, another embodiment includes from the one particular valueand/or to the other particular value. Similarly, when values areexpressed as approximations, by use of the antecedent “about,” it willbe understood that the particular value forms another embodiment. Itwill be further understood that the endpoints of each of the ranges aresignificant both in relation to the other endpoint, and independently ofthe other endpoint.

As utilized in this specification and the annexed drawings, the terms“system,” “component.” “unit,” “interface.” “platform,” “node.”“function,” “device,” “controller” and the like are intended to includea computer-related entity or an entity related to an operationalapparatus with one or more specific functionalities, wherein thecomputer-related entity or the entity related to the operationalapparatus can be either hardware, a combination of hardware andsoftware, software, or software in execution. Such entities also arereferred to as “functional elements.” As an example, a unit can be, butis not limited to being, a process running on a processor, a processor,an object (metadata object, data object, signaling object), anexecutable computer program, a thread of execution, a program, a memory(e.g., a hard-disc drive), and/or a computer. As another example, a unitcan be an apparatus with specific functionality provided by mechanicalparts operated by electric or electronic circuitry which is operated bya software application or a firmware application executed by aprocessor, wherein the processor can be internal or external to theapparatus and can execute at least a portion of the software applicationor the firmware application. As yet another example, a unit can be anapparatus that provides specific functionality through electronicfunctional elements without mechanical parts, the electronic functionalelements can include a processor therein to execute software or firmwarethat provides, at least in part, the functionality of the electronicfunctional elements. The foregoing examples and related illustrationsare but a few examples and are not intended to be limiting. In addition,while such illustrations are presented for a unit, the foregoingexamples also apply to a node, a function, a controller, a component, asystem, a platform, and the like. It is noted that in certainembodiments, or in connection with certain aspects or features suchembodiments, the terms “unit.” “component,” “system.” “interface,”“platform” “node,” “function,” “device.” “controller” can be utilizedinterchangeably.

Throughout the description and claims of this specification, the words“comprise,” “include,” and “have” and their variations, such as“comprising” and “comprises,” “including” and “includes,” “having” and“has,” mean “including but not limited to,” and are not intended toexclude, for example, other units, nodes, components, functions,interfaces, actions, steps, or the like. “Exemplary” means “an exampleof” and is not intended to convey an indication of a preferred or idealembodiment. “Such as” is not used in a restrictive sense, but forexplanatory purposes.

Reference will now be made in detail to the various embodiment(s) andrelated aspects of the subject disclosure, example(s) of which areillustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the samereference numbers are used throughout the drawings to refer to the sameor like parts.

As described in greater detail below, the disclosure relates, in oneaspect, to control of consumption of content in a device, such as anend-point rendering device. The content can include linear-programmingcontent assets and/or time-shifted content assets. The consumption canbe mediated by a control device that can coordinate the functionalinteraction between the device and a content distribution network nodeor an access network node that can supply the content and related tuninginformation.

Referring to the drawings, FIG. 1 illustrates a high-level block diagramof an example network environment in which consumption of content can beimplemented in accordance with one or more aspects of the disclosure.The example network environment 100 comprises a device 110 that isfunctionally coupled (e.g., communicatively coupled) to a network A 120which can include wireless networks, wireline networks, and anycombination thereof. In certain embodiments, the device 110 can becontained or can be embodied in a CPE. In additional or alternativeembodiments, the device 110 can comprise or can be embodied in a userdevice (mobile or pseudo-stationary). While in the illustratedembodiment the device 110 is coupled to the network A 120 via the link114, in additional embodiments, the device 110 can be coupled to thenetwork A 120 via an additional network, such as a home network (notdepicted). In one aspect, network B 130 can be administered (e.g. owned,operated, and/or leased) by a network operator that provides servicessuch as digital television content; internet protocol (IP) videocontent; digital telephony; data services, such as wide-area networkservices (e.g., internet service) or home network services (e.g., Wi-Fiaccess, femtocell access), and the like. A data and signaling pipe 114comprising a downstream link, or downlink (DL), enables functionalcoupling between the device 110 and the network A 120. The data andsignaling pipe 114 can comprise a wireless link or wireline link, or acombination thereof. As described herein, the device 110 can be embodiedin or can comprise almost any computing device, such as customerpremises equipment, including an electronic device that is part of anetwork (e.g., a communication network, a home network, a utilitiesnetwork, or combinations thereof) and can have various levels ofcomputational capability. In certain embodiments, the electronic devicecan be an end-point display device, without computing functionality,that can render previously decoded signals. For example, the device 110can be embodied in at least one of a terminal display device, a digitalterminal adapter (DTA), a set top box (STB), an IP-enabled television, apersonal computer, and so forth. In one embodiment, the device 110 canbe a one-way (e.g., downstream-only) device that cannot transmitupstream communications to the network A 120. It should be appreciatedthat in such embodiment, the device 110 may not transmit informationupstream (e.g., from the device 110 to the network A 120) due tooperational condition(s), such as connectivity issue(s)).

As illustrated, network A 120 can comprise a distribution server 124(e.g., a session resource manager (SRM) server) that can be contained ina distribution platform (e.g., a local headend or hub) and can befunctionally coupled to a network B 130 via a data and signaling pipe128. The distribution server 124 can manage ingestion of content fromone or more sources of content and/or delivery of at least a portion ofsuch content to the device 110. In one implementation, as describedherein, such delivery can be based on broadcast or narrowcast of QAMtransport streams. In another implementation, the delivery can be basedon transmission of a packet-switching (PS) communication protocolinformation stream. As an illustration, the packet-switchingcommunication protocol can include Ethernet protocol; internet protocol(IP), such as IPv4 and IPv6, or the like; or user datagram protocol(UDP). In addition or in the alternative, the distribution server 124can deliver signaling and/or control information (such as tuninginformation) to the control device 140 via the network B 130. It shouldbe appreciated that while the disclosure is illustrated in reference tothe distribution server 124, any or substantially any distributionnetwork node or an access network node with the functionality of suchserver is contemplated in the present disclosure.

Network B 130 can include wireless networks, wireline networks, and anycombination thereof. The data and signaling pipe 128 can comprise one ormore of a reference link, and related components; a conventional busarchitecture, such as address bus(es), power bus(es), or system bus(es);a conventional wireline link, such as an Ethernet line, a T-carrierline, a twisted-pair line, or the like; a wireless link, includingterrestrial wireless links or satellite-based links, or a combinationthereof; and so forth.

Network A 120 and network B 130 can include one or more of wide areanetworks (WANs), one or more local area networks (LANs), signalingnetworks (e.g., SS#7), and so forth. Such networks can operate inaccordance with any communication protocol, such as protocols forwireline communication or wireless communication. In one aspect, thenetwork A 120 can have internal structure, with various functionalelements that can provide at least two main operational blocks: abackbone network (e.g., a high-capacity packet-switched network) and aregional access network (RAN). Both the backbone network and theregional access network (RAN) can be WANs, for example, with thebackbone network having a larger geographical scope than the RAN.Similarly, the network B 130 can have internal structure, with severalfunctional elements that can provide various operational blocks, such asa backbone network (e.g., a high-capacity packet-switched network), acore network platform, a radio access network, and so forth. It shouldbe appreciated that, in one aspect, the networks A 120 and B 130 caninclude one or more middleware components that, at least partly inconjunction with data and signaling pipe 128, permit the functionalcoupling between such networks, among other functions.

In the example network environment 100, the control device 140 cancontrol consumption of content (linear programming, non-linearprogramming, time-shifted content assets, etc.) at the device 110. Thecontent is represented as asset 117. To at least such end, in oneaspect, the control device 140 can leverage two types of upstreamconnectivity to mediate exchange of information between the distributionserver 124 and the device 110: (1) point-to-point connectivity, such asshort-range optically-switched communication (either switched in thevisible spectrum or in the infrared (IR) spectrum, for example); and (2)wireless WAN-based upstream connectivity, such as macro-cellularcommunication (e.g., 3GPP Long Term Evolution Network communication, 4Gnetwork communication, etc.). In one aspect, the first upstreamconnectivity can establish a first communication pathway-labeled as“communication pathway I”—from the control device 140 to the device 110.In one additional aspect, the second upstream connectivity can establisha second communication pathway-labeled as “communication pathwayII”—from the control device 140 to the distribution server 124. Forpoint-to-point (P2P) connectivity, the control device 140 can utilizemost any radio technology for line-of-sight (LOS) telecommunication,such as optically-switched telecommunication. It should be appreciated,in one aspect, that P2P connectivity can provide presence informationassociated with the subscriber operating the control device 140. Incertain implementations, the network A 120 can utilize such presenceinformation to leverage location-based services to the control device140. For the wireless WAN-based upstream connectivity, the controldevice 140 can utilize one or more of several PS switching protocols(e.g., simple network management protocol (SNMP), TCP/IP, and the like)supported by one or more of such networks. In certain embodiments, e.g.,embodiment 300 in FIG. 3, the control device 140 can comprise a radiounit 324 that can permit communication of information (e.g., data,metadata, and/or signaling) via communication pathway I andcommunication pathway II.

In scenarios in which control device 140 is intended to controlconsumption of a transport stream conveying a non-linear content asset,such transport stream can generally be transmitted in a specific servicegroup, e.g., a portion of downstream spectrum comprising one or morenarrowcast channels, associated with the device 110. In one aspect, thecontrol device 140 can transmit a session initiation command, e.g.,embodying session command 145, to the distribution server 124 and inresponse, the control device 140 can receive tuning informationindicative of the specific service group (e.g., a plurality ofdownstream channels) utilized by the device 110 to convey content. Thesession initiation command can be transmitted via the network 130. Thetuning information is one embodiment of session information (info.) 147and can include payload data representative of a non-motion picture forinitialization of a service for consumption of time-shifted asset. Inone aspect, the control device 140 can transmit the tuning informationto the device 110 via the LOS link 148 that is included in communicationpathway I. The tuning information that is transmitted can embody sessioninformation 146.

In response to receiving the tuning information, in one implementation,the device 110 can tune to a frequency channel associated with thespecific service group, and can render the non-motion picture containedin the tuning information. In addition, the device 110 can render anidentifier representative of at least service group of the device 110and rendering capability (e.g., standard definition (SD), highdefinition (HD), H.264 format, etc.) of the device 110. In oneembodiment, the control device 140 can ingest the identifier—e.g., thecontrol device 140 can receive data indicative of the identifier via anI/O interface, which can be integrated into or functionally coupled tothe rendering unit 332 in the example embodiment 300 shown in FIG. 3—andcan compare the type of the non-linear asset intended for consumptionwith the rendering functionality of the device 110. In one embodiment ofthe control device 140, e.g., embodiment 300 shown in FIG. 3, an assetconsumption driver unit 328 (referred to as asset consumption driver328) can perform the comparison of the type of the non-linear asset andthe rendering functionality. In one aspect, a data structure indicativeof the rendering functionality can be retained in memory element 336,referred to as data storage 336, whereas the type of the non-linearasset can be retained in a record in the one or more memory elements335, referred to as asset consumption information (info.) 335. In ascenario in which such rendering functionality can permit rendering thenon-linear asset at the device 110, the control device 140 can transmita delivery command to the distribution server 124. The delivery commandcan embody or can be contained in the session command 145. In exampleembodiment 300, the delivery command can be generated by the assetconsumption driver 328 and supplied to the radio unit 324 fortransmission to the distribution server 124 via the communicationpathway II. In such embodiment, the asset consumption driver 328 canexchange information with the radio unit 324 via a bus 327.

In one aspect, the distribution server 124 can transmit, to the controldevice 140, tuning information for consumption of the non-linear contentasset (e.g., a time-shifted content asset, such as a VOD asset or annDVR asset) in response to receiving the delivery command. Such tuninginformation can comprise a channel frequency, a program identifier(e.g., PID or program number), and/or a transport stream identifier(TSID) for the non-linear content asset. It should be appreciated that,in one aspect, PID and TSID are specific to scenarios in which aninformation stream is encoded according to moving picture experts group(MPEG) format. It is contemplated that in scenarios in which theinformation stream encoded according to a format other than MPEG, thetuning information can include the channel frequency and/or one or morecontent identifiers specific to the content(s) conveyed in theinformation stream. In turn, the control device 140 can relay suchtuning information to the device 110. The tuning information can embodyor can be contained in the session information 146.

In response to receiving the tuning information associated with thenon-linear asset, in one aspect, the device 110 can tune to thefrequency channel conveyed by the tuning information and can compare thereceived TSID with a current TSID associated with a current delivery ofthe non-motion picture previously received at the device 110. It shouldbe appreciated that, in one aspect, such comparison can be performed toprevent cross-stream processing of content frames. When the outcome ofthe comparison indicates that the received TSID and the current TSID areconsistent, the device 110 can render the non-linear asset.

In one scenario, a command for consumption of an asset (e.g., a sessioncommand 145) can include an instruction to control an information streamassociated with media content being consumed at the device 110. Theinstruction can be at least one of a first instruction to advance themedia content associated with the data stream, a second instruction torewind the media content associated with the data stream, and a thirdinstruction to terminate rendering, at the device 110, the media contentassociated with the information stream. In such scenario, the controldevice 140 also can coordinate implementation of such instruction(s) byleveraging communication pathway I and communication pathway II.

FIG. 2 is a high-level block diagram of an example embodiment 200 of thenetwork environment 100 in accordance with one or more aspects of thedisclosure. As illustrated, such network environment can comprisenetwork B 130 and various network elements that embody the network A120. To more clearly identify various aspects of the example embodiment200, the boundaries of the network A 120 are depicted with dashed linesin FIG. 2. As illustrated, such network elements comprise a core networkplatform 210 functionally coupled to a distribution platform 230 througha data and signaling pipe 228. Core network platform 210 can have apacket-switched (PS) architecture and can serve as a border architecturethat permits functional coupling to the network B 130. The core networkplatform 210 can include various network nodes which can bedistinguished according to the functionality thereof. As illustrated,the various network nodes can comprise one or more server(s) 214, one ormore gateway node(s) 218, and a network repository 224. Whileillustrated as a single entity, the network repository 224 can bedistributed in order to provide data resiliency and other datamanagement advantages. In addition, while core network platform 210 isillustrated as a single block, in one or more embodiments such platformcan be distributed, having a centralized deployment site and a pluralityof distributed deployment sites. Functionality and architecture of theone or more servers 214, the one or more gateway nodes 218, and thenetwork repository 224 can be specific, yet not exclusive, to theparticular embodiment of the core network platform 210. For instance, inan example embodiment in which the core network is an Internet protocol(IP) multimedia subsystem (IMS) network, network repository 224 can be ahome subscriber server (HSS); server(s) 214 can comprise applicationserver(s), and specific function control nodes (e.g., Call SessionControl Functions (CSCFs), such as serving CSCF (S-CSCF) andinterrogating CSCF (I-CSCF)) and proxy servers; and gateway node(s) 218can comprise a breakout gateway control function (BGCF), a media gateway(MGW) and a signaling gateway (SGW), and media gateway control function(MGCF).

Network nodes, or network elements, in the core network platform 210 canbe functionally coupled through a bus 226, which permits exchange ofinformation (e.g., data, metadata, or signaling, or a combinationthereof) between two or more of server(s) 214, gateway node(s) 218, andnetwork repository 224. In one embodiment, bus 226 can include aplurality of reference links (Cx, Cr, Dh, Dx, Gm, Ma, Mg, etc.), andrelated components, and conventional bus architectures, such as addressbuses, system buses, power buses, and the like.

Distribution platform 230 can comprise one or more signal processingcomponent(s) (which can be integrated into the distribution server 124,for example) that can receive and operate on an information stream, suchas a data stream, a signaling stream, or a combination thereof. In oneaspect, such component(s) can perform one or more operations on theinformation stream, such as encoding, modulation, multiplexing,up-conversion, combination, or the like. Architecture of thedistribution platform 230 can be specific to the implemented modalityutilized for transmission of the information stream. Such modality caninclude wired delivery or wireless delivery, and specific protocols fortransmission of information, such as packet-switched communication,circuit-switched communication, or the like. In one embodiment, at leastone of such signal processing component(s) can embody a terminationsystem (TS), such as, in one type of network, a cable modem terminationsystem (CMTS). In another embodiment, at least one of the one or moresignal processing components of distribution platform 230 can embody anetwork router or a network switch (e.g., a digital subscriber lineaccess multiplexer (DSLAM)) for transmission of information streamsbased on a PS communication protocol, such as internet protocol (IP)(e.g., IPv4 or IPv6). As illustrated, the distribution platform 230 cancomprise a group of one or more originating nodes 246 that can transmitthe information stream. In certain embodiments, each originating node ofthe group of one or more originating node(s) 246 can embody an edgequadrature amplitude modulation (QAM) node. In other embodiments, eachone of the group of one or more originating nodes 246 can comprise orcan embody a device that can consolidate the functionality of atermination system (e.g. a CMTS) and an edge QAM node. In otherembodiments, each originating node of the group of one or moreoriginating node(s) 246 can embody a network router (e.g., a broadbandremote access server (BRAS)) or network switch (e.g., a DSLAM) fortransmission of information streams based on a PS communication protocol(e.g., IP, comprising IPv4 and/or IPv6). While illustrated as a singleblock, in certain embodiments, the distribution platform 230 can bedistributed, having a centralized deployment site (or plant) and aplurality of hub sites (also referred to as sites). In such embodiments,each one of the hub sites can comprise an edge originating node of thegroup of one or more edge originating node(s) 246.

Distribution platform 230 can receive data (e.g. data flows, audiosignals, video signals, any combinations thereof, etc.), metadata (whichcan characterize at least a portion of the data), and signaling (controlinstructions, clock signals, etc.) from a functional element that is,for example, part of the core network platform 210 or that isfunctionally coupled thereto. In one scenario, the functional elementcan be a server that supplies a combination of audio signals and videosignals, such as an audiovisual signal comprising a video asset. Theserver can be, for example, a content server for pay-per-viewprogramming, VOD content assets, or nDVR content assets; an applicationserver, a data server, a telephony server; a backbone network router; orthe like. In such scenario, based on the formatting of the audiovisualsignal, one or more signal processing component(s) (e.g., distributionserver 124) in the distribution platform 230 can process (e.g., encode,encrypt, modulate, multiplex, up-convert, and/or combine) theaudiovisual signal and supply a resulting audiovisual signal to an edgeoriginating node of the group of one or more originating nodes 246. Inone aspect, an originating node can transmit a plurality of P (a naturalnumber) data streams, conveying at least a portion of the audiovisualsignal. It should be appreciated that, in certain embodiments, the edgeoriginating node can operate on the audiovisual signal without relianceon such one or more signal processing component(s). In another scenario,a source node (e.g., a satellite transceiver coupled to an asset source;not shown) functionally coupled to the distribution platform 230 cangenerate an audiovisual signal, which can be processed by the one ormore processing component(s) and supplied to an edge originating node ofthe one or more originating nodes 246. Such edge originating node cantransmit a plurality of P data streams conveying at least a portion ofthe audiovisual signal.

A gateway node of the one or more gateway node(s) 218 can receive thesession command 145 and relay it to the distributed server 124 that canbe contained in the distribution platform 230. In anotherimplementation, a server (e.g., a proxy server) of the one or moreservers 214 can receive the session command 145 and relay it to theasset control unit 238. As described herein, the session command 145 canbe a message that initiates a session for consumption of a content asset(e.g., a time-shifted media asset). In one aspect, the session command145 can comprise a data structure suitable for initiating consumption(e.g., delivery) of the content asset. In another aspect, the sessioncommand 145 can comprise or can embody a control message (or controlcommand) comprising an instruction to control consumption of a contentasset, wherein the instruction can be at least one of a firstinstruction to advance rendering of content asset (e.g., a fast-forwardcommand); a second instruction to retreat the rendering of content asset(e.g., a rewind command) related to the data stream; or a thirdinstruction to suspend or terminate rendering the content asset (e.g., apause command or a stop command). In response to receiving a controlcommand, the distribution server 124 can supply control data to thecontrol device 140. In one aspect, the control device 140 can decode atleast a portion of the control data; and, in response to the decoding,can render a representation, e.g., indicia, such as a progress barindicative of the decoded control data. For example, the representationcan indicate status of execution (e.g., fast-forward progress) of thecontrol command (e.g., fast-forward instruction).

In one aspect, the distribution server 124 contained in the distributionplatform 230 can discover a service group, and related tuninginformation, associated with the device 110. In certain implementations,the distribution server 124 can include an asset control unit (notshown) that can transmit signaling indicative of a suitable asset formatand delivery route for a non-linear asset to an asset source unit (notshown) in the distribution platform 230, wherein the asset source unitcan provision and deliver the non-linear asset in such format anddelivery route. As an example, in a scenario in which the device 110 isa digital terminal adaptor, the distribution server 124 can establishthat delivery of a time-shifted content asset is to be effected througha first delivery route comprising an originating node (e.g., an edgeQAM), whereas in a scenario in which the device 110 is a computingdevice with suitable resources, the distribution server 124 candetermine that delivery of the time-shifted content asset is to beeffected through a second delivery route comprising an originating nodethat can be a termination system, such as a cable modem terminationsystem. Other implementations are contemplated in which the firstdelivery route can comprise a first network router or network switch forPS communication, and the second delivery route can comprise a secondnetwork router or network switch for PS communication. The firstdelivery route and the second delivery route both include data andsignaling pipe 248, various functional elements of transport network 250(e.g., an HFC network, a broadband network such as a digital subscriberline (DSL) network, or the like) and data and signaling pipe 254.

The transport network 250 can be a WAN that can be embodied in awireless network, a wireline network, or a combination thereof, and cansupply data service(s), such as television programming, video-on-demandprogramming, Internet service, and/or packet-switched data or telephony,to a user location which can be stationary (e.g., a location of a CPE)or mobile (e.g. a location of a mobile device). In certainimplementations, transport network 250 can be embodied in an optic fibernetwork, a coaxial cable network, a hybrid fiber coaxial (HFC) network,or a wireless network comprising terrestrial wireless links anddeep-space links (e.g., satellite links), or any combination thereof. Asan illustration, in an embodiment in which the transport network 250 isan HFC network, data and signaling pipe 248 can comprise several opticfiber links and associated optical functional elements, such asdownstream lasers, light amplifiers, last-mile fiber aggregator nodes,and the like. In addition, in such embodiment, transport network 250 cancomprise various RF amplifiers and coaxial taps to respective dwellings(e.g., a stationary user location) wherein customer premises equipment(CPE), such as device 110, can consume a data service provided throughdistribution platform 230. In such embodiment, the CPE can befunctionally coupled to a cable modem (not shown) and/or other device(e.g. a DTA) that can serve as the network gateway to the dwellingnetwork (e.g., a home area network) from the transport network 250. Asanother illustration, in an embodiment in which the transport network250 is a wired broadband PS network, data and signaling pipe 248 cancomprise Ethernet links, and can include network routers such as BRASsand network switches, such as DSLAMs. The network switches can befunctionally coupled to home gateways (e.g., DSL modems) in dwellings inwhich CPE (e.g., device 110) can consume data services provided throughdistribution platform 230.

As described herein, FIG. 3 is a block diagram of an example embodiment300 of the control device 140 in accordance with one or more aspects ofthe disclosure. As illustrated, the control device 140 can comprise amemory 334 having computer-executable instructions encoded thereon. Suchinstructions can be retained within the memory 334, for example, withinthe memory element 335. In addition, the control device 140 also cancomprise a radio unit 324, an asset consumption driver 328, and arendering unit 332 that can be functionally coupled to the memory 334.In one aspect, the radio unit 324 can transmit an initiation command toinitiate consumption of a media asset to a distribution server through afirst communication pathway. In response to the initiation command, theasset consumption driver 328 can determine if the media asset issuitable to be consumed through the device 110, which can be configuredto consume a plurality of media assets. Based on the outcome of suchdetermination, the radio unit 324 can transmit a delivery command toproceed with the consumption of the media asset to the distributionserver in response to the media asset being suitable to be consumedthrough the device 110. In one aspect, the delivery command can comprisean identifier indicative of a plurality of downstream channels (e.g. aservice group). The identifier indicative of such channels can beretained in the memory element 335 (labeled as asset consumptioninformation). In addition, the radio unit 324 can to receive firsttuning information in response to the delivery command. In one aspect,the first tuning information comprising data indicative of a firstdownstream channel of the plurality of downstream channels. In anotheraspect, the radio unit 324 can transmit the first tuning information tothe device through a second communication pathway.

In one aspect, the asset consumption driver 328 can receive informationincluding data indicative of an information stream conveying the mediaasset, and data indicative of a first transport stream identifier (TSID)associated with the information stream. In another aspect, the assetconsumption driver 328 can receive second tuning information from thedistribution server in response to the initiation command, and can relaysuch information to the device 110.

The asset consumption driver 328 also can to control consumption of themedia asset by transmitting a control command to the distributionserver, receiving control data from the distribution server in responseto the control command, and transmitting, via the radio unit 324, aportion of the control data to the device 110 through the secondcommunication pathway.

FIG. 4A illustrates an example embodiment 400 of the control device 140in accordance with one or more aspects of the disclosure. In one aspect,the control device 140 can embody a handheld wireless communicationdevice (e.g., a smartphone). To permit wireless communication with adevice (e.g., device 110) and provide information for consumption oftime-shifted content in accordance with one or more aspects describedherein, the control device 140 includes a radio unit 324 having one ormore antennas 412 and a communication unit 416. As illustrated inexemplary embodiment 450 shown in FIG. 4B, the communication unit 416can comprise a set of one or more transmitters/receivers 456, andcomponents therein (amplifiers, filters, etc.) functionally coupled to amodulator/demodulator (mod/demod) unit 460 (also referred to as modem460), a multiplexer/demultiplexer (mux/demux) unit 468, and acoder/decoder unit 472 (also referred to as codec 472). Each transmitterand each receiver of the transmitter(s)/receiver(s) 456 can transmit andreceive, respectively, wireless signal via the one or more antennas 412.In addition, in one embodiment, at least one of the transmitters in thetransmitter(s)/receiver(s) 456 can transmit wireless signals upstream(e.g., from the control device 140 to a destination device) via anoptical communication interface (e.g., an infrared (IR) light emittingdiode (LED) and associated circuitry) that can be part of the one ormore I/O interfaces 404. The optical communication interface can beenergized by the power source 424. In certain embodiments, the opticalinterface can be removable and can be coupled to the control device 140,via another I/O interface, such as an earphone (or headphone) jack. Inone aspect, the communication unit 416, via the modem 460, can processreceived signals or signals to be transmitted via an antenna or theoptical interface of the one or more interfaces 404.

Electronic components and associated circuitry, such as mux/demux unit468, modem 460, and codec 472, can permit processing, e.g.,coding/decoding, deciphering, modulation/demodulation, and the like, ofsignal(s) received by the control device 140 and signal(s) to betransmitted by the control device 140. In one aspect, received and/ortransmitted wireless signal(s) can be modulated and coded, or otherwiseprocessed, in accordance with one or more radio technology protocols(e.g., 3^(rd) Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) Universal MobileTelecommunication System (UMTS), 3GPP Long Term Evolution (LTE), or thelike).

The electronic components in the communication unit 416, including theone or more transmitters/receivers 456, can exchange information (e.g.,data, metadata, code instructions, signaling and related payload data,combinations thereof, or the like) through a bus 466, which can embodyor comprise at least one of a system bus, and address bus, a data bus, amessage bus, a power bus, or a reference link or interface. Each of theone or more receivers/transmitters 456 can convert signals from analogto digital and vice versa. In addition or in the alternative,receiver(s)/transmitter(s) 456 can divide a single data stream intomultiple parallel data streams, or perform the reciprocal operation.Such operations may be conducted as part of various multiplexingschemes. As illustrated, the mux/demux unit 468 is functionally coupledto the one or more receivers/transmitters 456 and can permit processingof signal(s) in time and frequency domain. In one aspect, the mux/demuxcomponent 468 can multiplex and demultiplex information (e.g., data,metadata, signaling, or both) according to various multiplexing schemes,such as time division multiplexing (TDM), frequency divisionmultiplexing (FDM), orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM),code division multiplexing (CDM), or space division multiplexing (SDM).In addition or in the alternative, in another aspect, the mux/demuxcomponent 468 can scramble and spread information (e.g., codes)according to substantially any code; e.g., Hadamard-Walsh codes, Bakercodes, Kasami codes, polyphase codes, and so on. The modem 460 canmodulate and demodulate information (e.g., data, metadata, signaling, ora combination thereof) according to various modulation techniques, suchas frequency modulation (e.g., frequency-shift keying), amplitudemodulation (e.g., M-ary quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM), with M apositive integer; amplitude-shift keying (ASK)), phase-shift keying(PSK), and the like). In addition, processor(s) 420 can permit, at leastin part, the control device 140 to process data (e.g., symbols, bits, orchips) for multiplexing/demultiplexing, modulation/demodulation, such asimplementing direct and inverse fast Fourier transforms, selection ofmodulation rates, selection of data packet formats, inter-packet times,etc.

The codec 472 can operate on information (e.g., data, signaling, orboth) in accordance with one or more coding/decoding schemes suitablefor communication, at least in part, through the one or moretransmitters/receivers 456. In one aspect, the coding/decoding schemes,or related procedures, can be retained as a group of one or more codeinstructions in memory 428. In a scenario in which wirelesscommunication among the control device 124 and a base station (e.g.,macro-cellular base station) of the network B 130 utilizesmultiple-input multiple-output (MIMO), multiple-input single-output(MISO), single-input multiple-output (SIMO) or single-inputsingle-output (SISO) operation, the codec 472 can implement at least oneof space-time block coding (STBC) and associated decoding; orspace-frequency block (SFBC) coding and associated decoding. In additionor in the alternative, the codec 472 can extract information from datastreams coded in accordance with spatial multiplexing scheme. In oneaspect, to decode received information (data, metadata, signaling, or acombination thereof), the codec 472 can implement at least one of:computation of log-likelihood ratios (LLR) associated with constellationrealization for a specific demodulation, maximal ratio combining (MRC)filtering, maximum-likelihood (ML) detection, successive interferencecancellation (SIC) detection, zero forcing (ZF) and minimum mean squareerror estimation (MMSE) detection, or the like. The codec 472 canemploy, at least in part, mux/demux component 468 and mod/demodcomponent 460 to operate in accordance with aspects described herein.

As described herein, the control device 124 can operate in a variety ofwireless environments having wireless signals conveyed in differentelectromagnetic radiation (EM) frequency bands. To at least such end, inone aspect, the communication unit 416 can process (code, decode,format, etc.) wireless signal(s) within a set of one or more EMfrequency bands (also referred to as frequency bands) comprising one ormore of radio frequency (RF) portions of the EM spectrum, microwaveportion(s) of the EM spectrum, or infrared (IR) portion of the EMspectrum. In one aspect, the set of one or more frequency bands caninclude at least one of (i) all or most licensed EM frequency bands, or(ii) all or most unlicensed frequency bands currently available fortelecommunication.

The control device 140 can include a memory 428 and one or moreprocessors 420 functionally coupled thereto. In one aspect, thefunctional coupling is provided via a bus 427. In certainimplementations, data storage 428 can be retained in a removableelement, such as a subscriber identification module (SIM) card storage,a universal integrated circuit card (UICC) storage, or a removable useridentity module (RUIM). In one aspect, the memory 428 can retain theasset consumption information 335.

In one embodiment, such as example embodiment 480 presented in FIG. 4C,the memory 428 can comprise a memory element 486 having one or morecomputer-accessible instructions encoded thereon (the memory element 486is represented with a block labeled asset consumption instruction(s)).Such instruction(s) can configure a processor 482 to perform variousfunctions, where the processor 482 is one of the processor(s) 420. Inone aspect, the computer-executable instructions, or a portion thereof,can configure the processor 482 to transmit an initiation command toinitiate consumption of a media asset to a distribution server (e.g.,distribution server 124) through a first communication pathway (e.g.,comm. pathway II). In another aspect, the computer-executableinstructions, or a portion thereof, can configure the processor 482 todetermine, in response to the initiation command, if the media asset issuitable to be consumed through a device (e.g., device 110) configuredto consume a plurality of media assets. In another aspect, thecomputer-executable instructions, or a portion thereof, can configurethe processor 482 to transmit a delivery command (which can embody asession command 145, for example) to proceed with the consumption of themedia asset to the distribution server in response to the media assetbeing suitable to be consumed through the device, the delivery commandcomprising an identifier indicative of a plurality of downstreamchannels (e.g., a service group in a content distribution network). Itshould be appreciated, that in one aspect, proceeding with consumptionof the media asset can comprise delivering content from the distributionserver to the device.

In yet another aspect, the computer-executable instructions, or aportion thereof, can configure the processor 482 to receive first tuninginformation in response to the delivery command, the first tuninginformation comprising data indicative of a first downstream channel ofthe plurality of downstream channels. The first tuning information canbe received from the distribution server via a first communicationpathway. In still another aspect, the computer-executable instructions,or a portion thereof, can configure the processor 482 to transmit thefirst tuning information to the device through a second communicationpathway (e.g., comm. pathway I).

In still another aspect, the processor 482 can be configured to receivesecond tuning information from the distribution server in response tothe initiation command. Such tuning information can be processed by theprocessor 482 in order to mediate consumption of the media asset at thedevice 110. In one implementation, the processor 482 can be configured,by the computer-executable instructions, or a portion thereof, totransmit the second tuning information to the device through the secondcommunication pathway; to receive, in response to the transmission, anidentifier conveying one or more of data indicative of a seconddownstream channel and data indicative of rendering capability of thedevice (e.g., standard-definition (SD) rendering, high-definition (HD)rendering); and to compare a type of the media asset (e.g., SD asset, HDasset, etc.) with the rendering capability. Such information collectionand comparison can embody an integrity check and, in response toagreement between the rendering capability and the media asset type, canpermit a subscriber of content distribution service associated with thecontrol device 140 to consume content through a device 110 that is notassociated with an account of the subscriber.

In one implementation, the processor is further configured, by thecomputer-executable instructions, or a portion thereof, to receiveinformation comprising data indicative of an information stream (e.g., asingle program transport stream) conveying the media asset, wherein thedata indicative of a first transport stream identifier (TSID) isassociated with the information stream.

In another implementation, the processor can be configured, by thecomputer-executable instructions, or a portion thereof, to controlconsumption of the media asset, by the computing device, by transmittinga control command to the distribution server; to receive, at thecomputing device, control data from the distribution server in responseto the control command; and to transmit a portion of the control data tothe device through the second communication pathway.

As illustrated, the control device 140 comprises one or more processors420 which can permit, at least in part, functionality of one or morefunctional elements of the control device 140 in accordance with one ormore aspects described herein. The one or more processors 420 can befunctionally coupled to each functional element within the controldevice 140 and to the memory 428 via bus 427. In certainimplementations, the bus 427 can be embodied in one or more of: a memorybus, a system bus, an address bus, a message bus, a power bus, or one ormore reference links or interface(s). While in embodiment 400, the oneor more processors 420 are illustrated as external to the variousfunctional elements (e.g., component(s), interface(s), platform(s),node(s)) of the control device 140, in an additional or an alternativeembodiment, the one or more processors 420 can be distributed among aplurality of such functional elements. In certain embodiments, one ormore functional elements of the control unit 140 can reside within thememory 428 as one or more sets of computer-accessible instructions,e.g., computer-readable computer-executable instructions. Suchinstructions, in response to execution by a processor of the one or moreprocessors 420, can implement the functionality of at least one of thefunctional elements of the control device 140 in accordance with aspectsof the disclosure.

FIG. 5 illustrates an example embodiment 500 of a computing device forconsumption of content in a device (e.g., an end-point rendering device)in accordance with aspects of the subject disclosure. The computingdevice 502 can embody the distribution server 124 described herein. Inthe illustrated embodiment, device 502 comprises one or moreinput/output (I/O) interface(s) 504, one or more processor(s) 508, amemory 516, and a bus 512 that functionally couples various systemcomponents including the one or more processor(s) 508 to the memory 516.In the case of multiple processors comprising the group of processors508, the device 510 can exploit concurrent computing.

The functionality of the device 502 can be configured by at least agroup of computer-executable instructions (e.g., programming codeinstructions or programming modules) that can be executed by a processorof the one or more processor(s) 508. The group of computer-executableinstructions can form one or more programming modules. Generally,programming modules can comprise computer code, routines, objects,components, data structures (e.g., metadata objects, data object,control objects), and so forth, that can be configured (e.g., coded orprogrammed) to perform a particular action or implement particularabstract data types in response to execution by the processor.

Any number of computer-executable instructions (such as programming codeinstructions) or programming modules can be retained in memory 516. Dataand computer-accessible instructions. e.g., computer-readable andcomputer-executable instructions, related to exchange of information(data, metadata, and/or signaling) associated with consumption of atime-shifted asset in accordance with aspects described herein can beretained in memory 516. In one aspect, a memory element which isrepresented as the asset administration data 520, can comprise a varietyof data and metadata related to indirect control of media consumption inan appliance (e.g., appliance 140) in accordance with aspects of thedisclosure. In another aspect, computer-accessible instruction(s)embodying or comprising one or more asset consumption instruction(s) canbe retained in memory 516 within memory element 518, which isrepresented with a block labeled asset consumption instruction(s). Inthe subject specification and annexed drawings, memory elements areillustrated as discrete blocks; however, such memory elements andrelated computer-executable instructions and data can reside at varioustimes in different storage elements (registers, files, memory addresses,etc.; not shown) in memory 516. In yet another aspect, the assetconsumption instruction(s) 518 can be stored as an implementation (e.g.,a compiled instance) of one or more computer-executable instructionsthat implement and thus provide at least part of the functionalitydescribed herein in connection with the distribution server 124, forexample. Asset consumption instruction(s) 518 also can be transmittedacross some form of computer readable media.

Memory 516 can be embodied in a variety of computer-readable media.Example computer-readable media can be any available media that isaccessible by a processor in a computing device, such as one of the oneor more processor(s) 508 in the device 510, and comprises, for example,both volatile and non-volatile media, removable and non-removable media.As an example, computer-readable media can comprise “computer storagemedia,” or “computer-readable storage media,” and “communications media”in accordance with features described herein. Such storage media can benon-transitory storage media.

In one aspect, memory 516 can comprise computer-readable media in theform of volatile memory, such as random access memory (RAM), ornon-volatile memory, such as read only memory (ROM). In one aspect,memory 516 can be partitioned into a system memory (not shown) that cancontain data and/or programming modules that can enable essentialoperation and control of the computing device 502. As described herein,such program modules can be implemented (e.g., compiled and stored) inmemory element 522, referred to as operating system (OS) instruction(s),whereas such data can be system data that is retained in memory element524, referred to as system data. The OS instruction(s) 522 and systemdata 524 can be immediately accessible to and/or are presently operatedon by at least one processor of the one or more processor(s) 508.Operating system 522 can comprise OSs such as Windows operating system,Unix, Linux, iOS and substantially any operating system for wireless ortethered computing devices. In another aspect, memory 516 can compriseother removable/non-removable, volatile/non-volatile computernon-transitory storage media. By way of example, memory 516 can includea mass storage unit (not shown) which can provide non-volatile storageof computer code, computer readable instructions, data structures,program modules, and other data for the device 502. As an example, themass storage unit (not shown) can be a hard disk, a removable magneticdisk, a removable optical disk, magnetic cassettes or other magneticstorage devices, flash memory cards, CD-ROM, digital versatile disks(DVD) or other optical storage, random access memories (RAM), read onlymemories (ROM), electrically erasable programmable read-only memory(EEPROM), and the like.

In various embodiments of the disclosure, the mediated (or indirect)control of consumption of time-shifted asset at a device (e.g., arendering device) that is effected in the disclosed systems and methodscan be performed in response to execution of software components (e.g.one or more implementations of asset consumption instruction(s) 518) bya processor or computing device. In particular, yet not exclusively, toprovide the specific functionality of the computing device 502, whichcan embody the distribution server 124, a processor of the one or moreprocessor(s) 508 can execute at least a portion of the asset consumptioninstruction(s) 518, consuming a time-shifted content asset in accordancewith one or more aspects of the disclosure.

In general, a processor of the one or more processor(s) 508 refers toany computing processing unit or processing device comprising asingle-core processor, a single-core processor with software multithreadexecution capability, multi-core processors, multi-core processors withsoftware multithread execution capability, multi-core processors withhardware multithread technology, parallel platforms, and parallelplatforms with distributed shared memory (e.g., a cache). In addition orin the alternative, a processor of the one or more processor(s) 508 canrefer to an integrated circuit with dedicated functionality, such as anapplication specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a digital signalprocessor (DSP), a field programmable gate array (FPGA), a complexprogrammable logic device (CPLD), a discrete gate or transistor logic,discrete hardware components, or any combination thereof designed toperform the functions described herein. In one aspect, processorsreferred to herein can exploit nano-scale architectures such as,molecular and quantum-dot based transistors, switches and gates, inorder to optimize space usage or enhance performance of the computingdevices that can implement the various aspects of the subjectdisclosure. In another aspect, the one or more processor(s) 508 can beimplemented as a combination of computing processing units.

The one or more input/output (I/O) interface(s) 504 can functionallycouple (e.g., communicatively couple) the computing device 502 to afunctional element of the network A 120 described herein. For example,in a scenario in which the computing device 502 embodies or comprisesthe distribution server 124, at least one of such interface(s) canfunctionally couple the computing device 502 to the device 110 via thetransport network 250. In addition, at least one of the one or moreinterface(s) 504 can functionally couple the computing device 502 to thecontrol device 140 via the core network platform 210.

In certain embodiments, the one or more I/O interface(s) 504 can includeat least one port that can permit connection of the computing device 502to peripheral devices, network adaptors, such as those that can bepresent in reference links, and other network nodes. In one aspect, theat least one port can include one or more of a parallel port (e.g.,GPIB, IEEE-1284), a serial port (e.g., RS-232, universal serial bus(USB), FireWire or IEEE-1394), an Ethernet port, a V.35 port, or thelike.

At least one I/O interface of the one or more I/O interface(s) 504 canpermit delivery of output (e.g., output data, output signaling) toanother computing device or a peripheral device. Such output canrepresent an outcome, or result, of a method or action performed at thecomputing device 502. In one scenario, the output can comprise one ormore of tuning information, control data (e.g., NPT data), or the likein accordance with aspects described. In another scenario, such outputcan be any representation (textual, graphical, aural, etc.) of dataand/or signaling resulting from implementation (e.g., execution) of thedisclosed methods (or processes) for controlling consumption oftime-shifted content at an end-point device (e.g., device 110) that isremote to the computing device 502. In one embodiment in which thecomputing device 502 embodies the device 110, a representation of suchdata and/or signaling can be determined, at least in part, by a specificend-user interface utilized for controlling consumption of time-shiftedcontent at the end-point device. In addition, or in the alternative,manipulation of such representation can be specific to the end-userinterface. For instance, the end-user interface can permit manipulation,and processing, of the data and/or signaling in response to specificgestures, such pressure gestures including screen taps and/or screenswipes.

Bus 512 represents one or more of several types of bus structures,including a memory bus or memory controller, a peripheral bus, anaccelerated graphics port, and a processor or local bus using any of avariety of bus architectures. As an example, and similarly, yet notidentically, to bus 512, such architectures can comprise an IndustryStandard Architecture (ISA) bus, a Micro Channel Architecture (MCA) bus,an Enhanced ISA (EISA) bus, a Video Electronics Standards Association(VESA) local bus, an Accelerated Graphics Port (AGP) bus, and aPeripheral Component Interconnects (PCI), a PCI-Express bus, a PersonalComputer Memory Card Industry Association (PCMCIA), Universal Serial Bus(USB) and the like.

In view of the various aspects of consumption (e.g., delivery and/orcontrol) of a media asset in a one-way device described herein, examplemethods that can be implemented in accordance with the disclosure can bebetter appreciated with reference to the example call flows in FIGS. 6-7and example flowcharts in FIGS. 8-10. For simplicity of explanation, theexample methods disclosed herein are presented and described as a seriesof actions (also referred to as steps), pictorially represented with ablock or as a delivered or received message in a call flow. However, itis to be understood and appreciated that implementation, and relatedadvantages, of such methods is not limited by the order of actions, assome actions may occur in different orders and/or concurrently withother actions from that shown and described herein. For example, thevarious methods (also referred to as processes) of the disclosure canalternatively be represented as a series of interrelated states orevents, such as in a state diagram.

The methods disclosed throughout the subject specification can be storedon an article of manufacture, such as a computer-readable storagemedium, to facilitate transporting and transferring such methods tocomputing devices (e.g., desktop computers, mobile computers, mobiletelephones, and the like) for execution, and thus implementation, by aprocessor or for storage in a memory.

FIG. 6 is a call flow of an example method 600 for delivery of a mediaasset (or asset) to a device, such as an end-point rendering device, inaccordance with one or more aspects of the disclosure. As describedherein, the media asset can include or be embodied in a PPV asset, or aVOD asset, or a network-recorded DVR (nVDR) asset. The control device140 can transmit a session initiation command 604 for asset consumption.As described herein, in one implementation, the session initiationcommand can be delivered in response to selection of an asset from amenu of media assets, the menu being rendered in the control device 140and the asset being selected through one or more gestures (e.g., screentap or touch, screen swipe, or the like). In another implementation, thesession initiation command can be delivered in response to actuation ofa logical address (e.g., a universal resource locator (URL)) conveyed inan information container, such as an email communication, a shortmessage service (SMS) communication, a multimedia service (MMS)communication, a blog posting, or a posting in a social networkinginterface (such as a twitter client, a Facebook client, or the like). Inresponse to such command, the distribution server 124 can transmit firsttuning information 608 (e.g., data or metadata) to the control device140, which can relay at least a portion 612 of the first tuninginformation 608 to the device 110. In one aspect, as described herein,the first tuning information can include information indicative of afirst downstream channel (also referred to as frequency) and programindicator for a landing frame. In another aspect, the first tuninginformation also can comprise a first content identifier (CID), such asa first transport stream identifier (TSID). A CID can uniquely identifyan information stream that can convey a media asset. In one embodiment,the landing frame can be an MPEG-formatted non-motion (or still) frameconveying a specific introductory message, such as “Welcome toOn-Demand.”

At block 616, the device 110 can render an identifier 620 (e.g., anumeric value or code (referred to, in certain embodiments as a “startcode”)) representative of a first downstream channel and renderingcapability of the device 110. In one aspect, the rendering capabilitycan include one or more of standard-definition (SD) rendering,high-definition (HD) rendering, H.264 rendering.

As illustrated, the identifier can be supplied to the control device 140via a message 620. As described herein, in certain embodiments, theidentifier can be a numeric hash that can be input into the controldevice 140. At block 624, the control device 140 can determine if themedia asset is suitable for consumption. Performing such determinationcan include comparing type of the media asset with the renderingcapability, as extracted from the identifier provided to the controldevice 140. In the affirmative case, the control device 140 can transmita delivery command 632 containing information indicative of the firstdownstream channel (e.g., a service group). In response, thedistribution server 124 can transmit second tuning information 636 tothe control device 140. In one aspect, the second tuning information caninclude information indicative of a second downstream channel in whichthe media asset can be conveyed to the device 110. In another aspect,the second tuning information also can comprise a second CID, such as aTSID. The control device 140 relays (e.g. transmits) to the device 110 aportion 640 of the second tuning information.

At block 628, the device 110 can tune to the first downstream channelreceived in the first tuning information and can decode the first CID(e.g. the first TSID). It should be appreciated that, in one aspect, theorder of implementation (e.g. execution) of blocks 624 and 628 can bereversed with respect to the illustrated order. In certain embodiments,such blocks can be implemented concurrently or nearly concurrently. Inaddition, at block 644, the device 110 can tune to the second downstreamchannel and can decode the second TSID.

At block 648, the device 110 determines if the first CID (e.g., thefirst TSID) and the second CID (e.g., the second TSID) agree. At block652, in response to the first CID (e.g., the first TSID) and the secondCID (e.g., the second TSID) being in agreement, the device 110 canrender the media asset.

FIG. 7 is a call flow of an example method 700 for delivery of a mediaasset to a rendering device (which can be embodied in device 110, forexample) in accordance with one or more aspects of the disclosure. Asillustrated, the control device 140 can receive a control command 704.In one implementation, the control command 704 can be received from anend-user via a gesture for interaction with the control device 140. Thecontrol device 140 can relay the control command to the distributionserver 124 within a message 708. In response to receiving the controlcommand, the distribution server 124 can transmit control data 712 a tothe control device 140. In one aspect, the control data 712 a cancomprise acknowledgement signaling. In an embodiment in which thecontrol command is directed to rewinding or fast-forwarding a mediaasset, the control data 712 a can comprise timing information, such as anetwork play time (NPT) index (or indicator).

The control device 140 can transmit control data 716 a to the device110, the control data 716 a comprising at least a portion of the controldata 712 a. In one aspect, the control data 716 a can include additionalsignaling with respect to the control data 712 a. For instance, in anembodiment in which the control command 704 is directed to rewinding themedia asset, the control data 716 a can comprise the timing informationreceived in the control data 712 a and information representative of thecontrol command 704 being a command to rewind the media asset. In oneimplementation, the control data 716 a can include the followinginformation: “rewind=1, NPT=12.” At block 720 a, the device 110 candecode at least a portion of the control data 716 a. At 724 a, thedevice 110 can render a representation of the decoded data. In oneimplementation, such representation can comprise an on-screen display(OSD) transport bar or progress bar associated with implementation ofthe control command 704.

As illustrated, the distribution server 124 a can transmit additionalcontrol data 712 b to the control device 140, which can transmit controldata 716 b (comprising at least a portion of the control data 712 a) tothe device 110. Similarly, the device 110 can blocks 720 b and 724 b candecode a portion of the control data and render a representation of thedecoded data, respectively. Additional cycles of control data deliveryand processing (e.g., decoding and rendering) can be effected duringindirect control (e.g., fast-forward, rewind, pause, or the like) ofcontent rendered at the device 110. Such additional cycles not depicted,but are represented with ellipses.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart of an example method 800 for configuring deliveryof a media asset in accordance with one or more aspects of thedisclosure. In one aspect, the subject example method 800 can beimplemented (e.g., compiled, linked, and executed; linked and executed;or executed) by a computing device, such as control device 140, or aprocessor integrated therein or functionally coupled thereto. At block810, a session initiation command is transmitted to a distribution node(e.g., distribution server 124, a distribution device, or the like)through a first communication pathway (e.g., comm. pathway II), thesession initiation command is directed to initiating consumption of amedia asset. At block 820, it is determined if the media asset issuitable to be consumed through a device (e.g. a user device or a CPE),wherein the device can be configured to consume a plurality of mediaassets. In one embodiment, the device can be embodied in or can comprisethe device 110. At block 830, a delivery command is transmitted to thedistribution node through a second pathway (e.g., comm. pathway II), thedelivery command is directed to proceeding with the consumption of themedia asset. In one aspect, the delivery command is delivered inresponse to determining that the media asset is suitable to be consumedby the device (e.g., the user device). At block 840, tuning informationis received in response to the delivery command. In one aspect, thetuning information can comprise data indicative of a first downstreamchannel of the plurality of downstream channels. In another aspect,receiving the tuning information further can comprise receivinginformation including data indicative of an information stream conveyingthe media asset, and data indicative of a content identifier (CID), suchas a transport stream identifier (TSID), associated with the informationstream. At block 850, the tuning information is transmitted to thedevice (e.g., device 110) through the second communication pathway.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart of an example method 900 for configuring andcontrolling delivery of a media asset in accordance with one or moreaspects of the disclosure. In one aspect, the subject example method 900can be implemented (e.g., compiled, linked, and executed; linked andexecuted; or executed) by a computing device, such as control device140, or a processor integrated therein or functionally coupled thereto.Blocks 910-950, and implementation thereof, are substantially the sameas blocks 810-850. At block 960, consumption of the media asset iscontrolled by transmitting a control command (e.g., a “Rewind” command,a “Fast-Forward” command, a volume change command) to the distributionnode through the first communication pathway. At block 970, control datais received from the distribution node in response to the controlcommand. At block 980, at least a portion of the control data istransmitted to the device through the second communication pathway.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart of an example method 1000 for delivering a mediaasset in accordance with one or more aspects of the disclosure. In oneaspect, the subject example method 1000 can be implemented (e.g.,compiled, linked, and executed; linked and executed; or executed) by acomputing device, such as device 110, or a processor integrated thereinor functionally coupled thereto. At block 1010, a representation of anidentifier is rendered, the identifier is indicative of a firstdownstream channel or data indicative or rendering capability. At block1020, the first downstream channel is tuned to. In one aspect, thecomputing device that implements the subject example method 1000 cantune to the first downstream channel. At block 1030, a first CID (e.g.,a first TSID) contained in the first downstream channel is decoded. Atblock 1040, a second downstream channel is tuned to. In one aspect, thecomputing device that implements the subject example method 1000 cantune to the second downstream channel. At block 1050, a second CID(e.g., a second TSID) contained in the second downstream channel isdecoded. At block 1060, it is determined if the first CID agrees withthe second CID and, in the affirmative case, a media asset is deliveredat block 1080. In the negative case, at block 1070, exception handlingis implemented. For example, an error message can be delivered insteadof delivery of the media asset. The error message can be aural, visual,physical (such as a vibration), or a combination thereof.

While the systems, apparatuses, and methods have been described inconnection with example embodiments and specific illustrations, it isnot intended that the scope be limited to the particular embodiments setforth, as the embodiments herein are intended in all respects to beillustrative rather than restrictive.

Unless otherwise expressly stated, it is in no way intended that anyprotocol, procedure, process, or method set forth herein be construed asrequiring that its acts or steps be performed in a specific order.Accordingly, in the subject specification, where description of aprocess or method does not actually recite an order to be followed byits acts or steps or it is not otherwise specifically recited in theclaims or descriptions of the subject disclosure that the steps are tobe limited to a specific order, it is no way intended that an order beinferred, in any respect. This holds for any possible non-express basisfor interpretation, including: matters of logic with respect toarrangement of steps or operational flow; plain meaning derived fromgrammatical organization or punctuation; the number or type ofembodiments described in the specification or annexed drawings, or thelike.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that variousmodifications and variations can be made in the subject disclosurewithout departing from the scope or spirit of the subject disclosure.Other embodiments of the subject disclosure will be apparent to thoseskilled in the art from consideration of the specification and practiceof the subject disclosure as disclosed herein. It is intended that thespecification and examples be considered as non-limiting illustrationsonly, with a true scope and spirit of the subject disclosure beingindicated by the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method comprising: sending, by a computingdevice to a distribution device, an initiation command through a firstcommunication pathway, wherein the initiation command is associated withdelivery of a media asset to a user device configured to consume aplurality of media assets, wherein the user device is not configured forupstream communication; receiving, by the computing device, first tuninginformation from the distribution device; sending, by the computingdevice to the user device, at least a portion of the first tuninginformation; receiving, by the computing device in response to sendingthe at least a portion of the first tuning information, a firstidentifier indicative of a rendering capability of the user device;determining, by the computing device based on the first identifier, thatthe media asset is suitable to be consumed via the user device bycomparing a type of the media asset with the rendering capability of theuser device; sending, by the computing device to the distributiondevice, a delivery command configured to cause the distribution deviceto proceed with the delivery of the media asset in response todetermining that the media asset, wherein the delivery commande is sentis suitable to be consumed via the user device, and wherein the deliverycommand comprises a second identifier indicative of a plurality ofdownstream channels; receiving, by the computing device, second tuninginformation in response to the delivery command, the second tuninginformation comprising data indicative of a first downstream channel ofthe plurality of downstream channels, wherein the first tuninginformation is different from the second tuning information; andsending, by the computing device to the user device, the second tuninginformation through a second communication pathway.
 2. The method ofclaim 1, wherein receiving the second tuning information furthercomprises receiving information comprising data indicative of aninformation stream conveying the media asset and data indicative of afirst content identifier (CID) associated with the information stream.3. The method of claim 1, further comprising: sending, by the computingdevice, a control command to the distribution device to controlconsumption of the media asset; receiving, by the computing device,control data from the distribution device in response to the controlcommand; and sending, by the computing device, a portion of the controldata to the user device through the second communication pathway.
 4. Themethod of claim 3, further comprising: decoding, by the user device, theportion of the control data; and rendering, by the user device, arepresentation of the decoded control data.
 5. The method of claim 1,wherein the first identifier is further indicative of a seconddownstream channel of the plurality of downstream channels.
 6. Themethod of claim 5, wherein transmitting the first tuning information tothe user device causes the user device to render a representation of thefirst identifier.
 7. The method of claim 5, wherein transmitting thefirst tuning information to the user device causes the user device totune to the second downstream channel.
 8. An apparatus, comprising: oneor more processors; and a memory storing processor executableinstructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, causethe apparatus to: send an initiation command to a distribution devicethrough a first communication pathway, wherein the initiation command isassociated with a delivery of a media asset via a user device configuredto consume a plurality of media assets, wherein the user device is notconfigured for upstream communication; receive first tuning informationfrom the distribution device; send, to the user device, at least aportion of the first tuning information; receive, in response to sendingthe at least a portion of the first tuning information, a firstidentifier indicative of a rendering capability of the user device;determine, based on the first identifier, that the media asset issuitable to be consumed via the user device; send, to the distributiondevice, a delivery command configured to cause the distribution deviceto proceed with the delivery of the media asset, wherein the deliverycommand is sent in response to determining that the media asset issuitable to be consumed via the user device, and wherein the deliverycommand comprises a second identifier indicative of a plurality ofdownstream channels; receive second tuning information in response tothe delivery command, the second tuning information comprising dataindicative of a first downstream channel of the plurality of downstreamchannels, wherein the first tuning information is different from thesecond tuning information; and send the second tuning information to theuser device through a second communication pathway.
 9. The apparatus ofclaim 8, wherein the processor executable instructions, when executed bythe one or more processors, further cause the apparatus to receiveinformation comprising data indicative of an information streamconveying the media asset, or data indicative of a first contentidentifier (CID) associated with the information stream.
 10. Theapparatus of claim 8, wherein the processor executable instructions,when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the apparatusto: control consumption of the media asset by sending a control commandto the distribution device; receive control data from the distributiondevice in response to the control command; and send a portion of thecontrol data to the user device through the second communicationpathway.
 11. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the processor executableinstructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further causethe apparatus to receive the first tuning information from thedistribution device in response to the initiation command.
 12. Theapparatus of claim 11, wherein the second identifier indicates a seconddownstream channel.
 13. A system comprising: a distribution device; auser device configured to consume a plurality of media assets, whereinthe user device is not configured for upstream communication; acomputing device configured to at least: send, to the distributiondevice, an initiation command through a first communication pathway,wherein the initiation command is associated with delivery of a mediaasset to the user device; receive, from the distribution device, firsttuning information; send to the user device, at least a portion of thefirst tuning information; receive, in response to sending the at least aportion of the first tuning information, a first identifier indicativeof a rendering capability of the user device; determine, based on thefirst identifier, that the media asset is suitable to be consumed viathe user device by comparing a type of the media asset with therendering capability of the user device; send, to the distributiondevice, a delivery command configured to cause the distribution deviceto proceed with the delivery of the media asset, wherein the deliverycommand is sent in response to determining that the media asset issuitable to be consumed via the user device, and wherein the deliverycommand comprises a second identifier indicative of a plurality ofdownstream channels; receive, from the distribution device, secondtuning information in response to the delivery command, the secondtuning information comprising data indicative of a first downstreamchannel of the plurality of downstream channels, wherein the firsttuning information is different from the second tuning information; andsend, to the user device, the second tuning information through a secondcommunication pathway.
 14. The system of claim 13, wherein receiving thesecond tuning information further comprises receiving informationcomprising data indicative of an information stream conveying the mediaasset and data indicative of a first content identifier (CID) associatedwith the information stream.
 15. The system of claim 13, wherein thecomputing device is further configured to at least: send a controlcommand to the distribution device to control consumption of the mediaasset; receive, from the distribution device, control data in responseto the control command; and send, to the user device, a portion of thecontrol data through the second communication pathway.
 16. The system ofclaim 15, wherein the user device is configured to at least: decode theportion of the control data; and render a representation of the decodedcontrol data.
 17. The system of claim 13, wherein the first identifieris further indicative of a second downstream channel.
 18. The system ofclaim 17, wherein the user device is further configured to at leastrender a representation of the first identifier.
 19. The system of claim18, wherein the user device is further configured to at least tune tothe second downstream channel in response to receiving the first tuninginformation.